If Construction Worked Like Healthcare

If Construction Worked Like Healthcare

A summer thunderstorm rolls through and you notice that there is water dripping from your kitchen ceiling.?You think to yourself; I can’t really afford this.?I have kids in college and tuition bills to pay, but you know it can’t be ignored.?You realize you need to call a contractor, and you learn from your homeowner’s association that Community Care Roofing company is the only contractor approved for your neighborhood.?You are concerned.?How can I get a fair price if there is only one contractor??You figure, with a name of Community Care, they must be good, and you call for an estimate. You are comforted more to learn that the organization is a nonprofit entity, created to serve the public.?You even take a minute to check out their website, and their stated values are integrity, transparency, community, and charity.?You sleep well that night.

The contractor shows up and you begin to tell him about the roof leak.?He doesn’t listen and only wants to confirm which insurance you have.?You give him the information and he agrees to look at your roof.?You may or may not need a whole new roof, but he made the trip, so he recommends one.?He proceeds to measure and talk with you about shingle style, warranty, and color preference.?He finishes, and before he leaves, you ask if he will be sending a quote.?He smiles and responds that it is “too complicated”, and he will be there in a couple weeks to begin.?You think, that is frustrating and a little scary, but this is how everyone does this, so you go along with it.?You see Community Care in colorful vinyl, all professional-like, on the big expensive truck and everything looks legitimate, so you brush it off and go inside.?

A month and a half later, he finally shows up with his crew and they begin tearing off your roof.?You don’t really understand construction, but trust that they know what they are doing.?You are at their mercy at this point, and you hope for the best.?They perform the work and in about a week, the old roof is off, in the dumpster and the new roof is on, and looks good.?You sign all the papers, and he gets in his shiny truck, smiles, and says he will send you the bill.?Before leaving, he says you need some other things, and refers you to a gutter installation company and siding company.?He says if you don’t get those things done your house will really be at risk.?For the roof bill, you’re not sure what to expect, but you are guessing it will be $7,000 to $8,000, because you only have a smaller, one-story ranch home.?

Over the next few weeks, you keep looking for a bill.?Nothing comes, so you continue to wait.?A couple months later, it arrives.?It is for the delivery of the shingles.?A few days later, you get another bill from the same company for delivery of the felt and nails.?You think, that is weird, why didn’t they deliver it in one trip and why it is my cost if they didn’t??No one asked me.?And more concernedly, the bill for the shingles arrives and it is $12,000, and yet another one arrives for felt and nails and it is $4,500.?A few days later you get a bill for the labor, and it is $22,000.?You call the contractor, and he is annoyed that you are asking.?He says not to worry - insurance will cover it.?A few days later you get a bill for the dumpster, and it has a surcharge on it because the roads were slippery that day.?And the next day, you get another bill for the removal of the roof.?You call the contractor again and mention that you thought that was covered in the first labor bill, but he exclaims that is a different department.?A day later you get another bill for roof sheathing repair and one sheet of plywood was used.?The charge for the plywood is $1496.?You call once more to ask questions.?The contractor is increasingly annoyed and short tempered that you are questioning him. You explain that you can get this sheet of plywood for $42 at Home Depot.?He doesn’t acknowledge your shopping acuity and tells you insurance will cover it.?You wonder what you will do.?You only have $3,500 in your savings.?While you are stressing about the bills, a collection letter shows up, threatening to take you to court if you do not pay promptly.?You remember a friend telling you that he had his wages garnished and a lien placed on his home for not being able to pay. ?Finally, the bills stop coming and it appears you have received all of them.?You learn that your insurance company is now questioning whether a second delivery for materials is covered.?It was not preauthorized beforehand.?After about 8 phone calls, insurance finally agrees to pay for the extra delivery. The total of the bills comes to $52,569.24 and your home deductible is $10,000.?Thankfully, you have built up your 401k and decided to take a loan through your employer.?You take the money out and pay your maximum out of pocket for the year.?Your bank account is empty, and your retirement took a hit, but everyone got paid and you are thankful you didn’t have to file bankruptcy.?Hopefully, no other surprises come up.?

Unfortunately, this is not an exaggerated story.?This is how healthcare works every day in America.?